Space and Environment: Secret Lairs Film Review

Edward Scissorhands, 1990

Figure 1: Edward Scissorhands

Directed by Tim Burton and the first of his collaborations with actor Johnny Depp, 'Edward Scissorhands' 1990 is a fantasy romance in which a gentle young man with scissors for hands falls in love with a teenage girl. Set in American suburbia, this modern fairy tale tells the story of Edward, a boy created by an inventor who died before he could complete him. Leaving him in isolation, in a gothic castle atop a black mountain with scissors in the place of hands. At the foot of the hill lies the perfect pastel world of rows and rows of nearly identical houses with nearly identical inhabitants. One day, in lilac attire, the Avon lady ventures up the hill, in hopes of making a sale. Once through the gates, she finds herself in a beautiful yet surreal garden, filled with topiaries trimmed into amazing sculptures. Inside the mansion she finds Edward who tells her he is 'unfinished'. His gentle nature and pitiful face invoke sympathy in Peg, the Avon lady, who takes him home to live with her and her family including her beautiful daughter, Kim. The film follows Edward's struggles to conform and fit in with the people of suburbia. While he excites intrigue in his new neighbours

and impresses with his skills as a gardener and hair stylist, ultimately his uniqueness proves too much and he is chased back to the mansion to live alone in the film's bitter-sweet climax. During his time with Peg's family, Edward falls in love with Kim, and while decorating the house for Christmas creates snow when making an ice sculpture. In the final sequence of the film it is revealed that before Edward there was never snow in suburbia. This sequence takes place during a snow storm, so therefore Edward must still live atop the hill.

Figure 2: Edward Scissorhands

Considered to be one of Burton's greatest accomplishments, 'Edward Scissorhands' has been described as cinema's most enchanting parable about the misunderstood and alienated artist. (Larsen, 2008) Depp's character is an isolated, creative soul who is banished when he fails to meet societies expectations of him. An audience can't help but feel sympathy towards Edward, he is kind and gentle but cursed to forever be unfinished. His face bears countless scars suffered accidentally at his own hands and Depp's almost silent portrayal of Edward has audience's hearts melting. It can be said that Edward is a reflection of all young people who feel isolated and different, and more importantly a reflection of Tim Burton himself.

Figure 3: Edward Scissorhands

As in each of Mr. Burton's films, the production design is the central good idea, perhaps even the sole one. This time, with production design by Bo Welch and cinematography by Stefan Czapsky, it involves bright colours in unlikely combinations, for instance, a lavender-suited Avon lady driving a dandelion-yellow car) and fashionably ridiculous late-1950's artefacts placed prominently throughout the characters' bunkerlike homes. (Maslin, 1990)

Figure 4: Edward Scissorhands

One of the most successful elements of the mise-en-scene in 'Edward Scissorhands' is the contrast between the suburban homes and the gothic castle above, as well as between Edward and the residents of the street. While the inventor's mansion seems to have many characteristics an audience would expect from an antagonist's lair in a horror film; the black walls and eery dark rooms, and the suburban street seems like the ideal American home, the film presents the question, which is the real nightmare? You have this unique individual of the most outrageous sort who's brought into the stronghold of conformity: American suburbia, where the houses all look alike (except for being painted in a different pastel or Candyland color), the men all drive off to work and return at exactly the same time, and everyone manicures and waters their identicallooking lawns as they lead nearly identical lives. (Plath, 2007) Poor Edward cannot conform to the suburban space due to his own uniqueness. While all of the residents of the street seem to be identical, he just doesn't fit in. Upon arriving at Peg's house, Edward is given clothes to wear. This is the first way in which Edward is made to try and conform, and helps to create the illusion that he will be able to live in suburbia, cutting hedges and hair forever. This illusions is shuttered, and Edward is seen ripping off the shirt and trousers, while damaging the 'perfect' house he has been brought to.

The most remarkable aspect of the Edward Scissorhands score is its ability to tell Burton's story without the visuals. The album takes you on the journey of this fable with masterful precision, embodying the heartwrenching emotions of Edward's discovery and downfall with thematic and choral elements never restrained. (FilmTracks, 1996) The score throughout the film reflects the magical, fairy-tale atmosphere. Edward's existence is the result of an inventor's creation coming to life, giving the comparison to Frankenstein, and there is also the added magical element in the creation of snow. This is all reflected in the charming soundtrack composed by Danny Elfman.

The point is, "Edward Scissorhands" is a deceptively simple but complex film that resonates as a fairy tale for adults precisely because it does work on so many different levels. Remove any one of the elements (like the surreal contrast between the candy-colored houses and the gloom-and-doom Gothic castle) and it fails. It's as fragile a construction as the film's namesake. (Plath, 2007) Overall 'Edward Scissorhands' is both visually and ideologically pleasing, despite the bitter-sweet ending.

Figure 5

Figure 6

Illustration List
Figure 1. Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://www.impawards.com/1990/edward_scissorhands_ver1.html Figure 2. Still from Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/05/13/movies-thateveryone-should-see-edward-scissorhands/ Figure 3. Still from Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/05/13/movies-thateveryone-should-see-edward-scissorhands/ Figure 4. Still from Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/edwardscissorhands/images/16774399/title/edward-scissorhands-photo Figure 5. Still from Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/05/13/movies-thateveryone-should-see-edward-scissorhands/ Figure 6. Still from Edward Scissorhands 1990 At: http://fogsmoviereviews.com/2012/05/13/movies-thateveryone-should-see-edward-scissorhands/

Bibliography
Larsen, J Edward Scissorhands 2008 At: http://www.larsenonfilm.com/index.php?Search=Edward %20Scissorhands%20Winston&AllWords=on Maslin, J Edward Scissorhands 1990 Review/Film; And so handy around the garden 1990 At: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review? res=9C0CE2D81338F934A35751C1A966958260&partner=Rotten%20Tomatoes Plath, J Edward Scissorhands BluRay Review 2007 At: http://moviemet.com/review/edward-scissorhandsblu-ray-review FilmTracks Edward Scissorhands Soundtrack review 1996 At: http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/edward_s. html